Topline
Paleontologists have discovered the partial skeleton of a previously unknown dinosaur in southern Argentina that they say is the first evidence of an armored dinosaur evolving in South America, according to a paper published Thursday.
A holotype of Jakapil kaniukura
Key Facts
The researchers dated the dinosaur, which they named Jakapil kaniukura, to the Cretaceous Period, and believe it walked upright on its back legs, they wrote in the journal Scientific Reports.
In addition to the partial skeleton, lead paleontologist Sebastain Apesteguia and his colleagues also came across 15 tooth fragments with leaf-like shape.
It measured out to be five feet long with a weight between 9 and 15 pounds.
It is a member of the thyreophoran dinosaur group, which also includes other, more well-known armored dinosaurs such as the Stegosaurus and the Ankylosaurus.
Surprising Fact
This isn’t the only recent dinosaur discovery in Argentina. Back in July, paleontologists discovered a fossil of Meraxes gigas in the northern Patagonia region. This dinosaur was 36 feet long and weighed over 4 tons, or 8,000 pounds. It also had disproportionately short arms, similar to those of a Tyrannosaurus rex.
Big Number
100 million. That’s how many years are estimated to have passed since the fossil roamed the Earth.
Further Reading
Could We Clone Dinosaurs? (Forbes)
Meraxes gigas: New dinosaur species discovered that had tiny arms like T. rex | CNN
